The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has confirmed Mohammed Baba Jamal as its candidate for the upcoming Ayawaso East by-election, despite lingering allegations of vote-buying during the party’s recent parliamentary primary.
The announcement was made by NDC General Secretary Fifi Kwetey after a meeting of the party’s Functional Executive Committee, which convened following the submission of findings from a three-member investigative panel.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Kwetey explained that although “the committee’s report was to the effect that, ideally, we should have an annulment of the primaries,” certain constraints made that option unworkable.
He noted: “One, the party’s constitution does not have a provision for an annulment of an election. Two, we are time-bound because we need to be presenting a candidate by tomorrow to the Electoral Commission. So, given these difficulties, and also there are legal challenges that could be mounted by whoever won, and the party clearly would not be able to go through any of that process without presenting a candidate very quickly.”
On that basis, he said, “we have no option but to present Baba Jamal, who actually won, according to the Electoral Commission declaration.”
Mr. Kwetey further disclosed that a new seven-member committee has been set up to design broad reforms aimed at curbing vote-buying in future internal contests.
The initial investigative panel had been tasked with probing claims that aspirants offered inducements such as television sets and cash to delegates during the February 7 primary.
Mr. Kwetey added that “inappropriate conduct was exhibited by virtually all the candidates” during the poll.
Leave a Reply